A seemingly abstract iconography lies at the heart of Kitty Kantilla’s art. Far from being non-representational, however, the different combination of dots, lines and blocks of colour called jilamara (design) together invoke inside elements of ritual and reveal the essence of Kantilla’s cultural identity.

Like other Tiwi artists, Kantilla gained her artistic knowledge in ceremonial contexts before learning to express her individuality by carving and Paintings objects of the Pukumani (mourning) ceremony.

This work is composed largely of densely textured blocks of colour on black or white – the elegant geometry is broken by minor segments of dots and lines. The artist is working with cloudy white, intense red and dense yellow on black: chords in a four-part harmony. The composition is infused with tonal and textural variations: the end result remains a measured and balanced synthesis.